Whereas, the minimum requirement to be considered a full-time student at Cornell University is 12 credits per semester.
Whereas, to graduate from Cornell’s undergraduate program, a student needs to complete 120 credits. Across 8 semesters (or 4 academic years), this means that a student has to take around 15 credits per semester.
Whereas, most courses at Cornell are 3 or 4 credits in line with Federal and New York state laws and regulations, meaning that all full time students must usually be enrolled in at least 3 classes.
Whereas, a significant portion of courses have a final assessment in various formats, including, but not limited to, sit-down exams, take-home exams, and final projects.
Whereas, the study period and the final exam period are often times of great stress for students.
Whereas, the current 3-day study period requires students to decide between taking care of themselves and studying to an adequate level for their final exams.
Be it therefore resolved, Cornell will determine with utmost urgency how the academic calendar can be amended to extend the existing pre-final exam season study period from 3 days to 5 days.
Be it further resolved, the Assembly requests that the University encourage the Faculty Senate to review the Academic Calendar during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Be it further resolved, the Assembly encourages the University to consider starting the Spring semester earlier to allow for more study days prior to final exams.
Be it further resolved, if it is impossible to lengthen the study period, the Administration will consider designating Slope Day as a day off, meaning that the Spring semester study period starts the day after Slope Day.
Be it finally resolved, the University will take all necessary steps to make this change by the Fall 2026 semester and for all following semesters.
Respectfully submitted,
Saad Razzak ‘26
Representative of the College of Arts and Sciences, Student Assembly
Adam Vinson ‘25
Student Assembly Executive Vice President
Niles Hite ‘26
Student Assembly Vice President of Finance
Ocean Karim ‘25
GPSA Liaison, Student Assembly
Ameera Aftab ‘26
Minority Student Representative, Student Assembly
Rajat Acharjee ‘26
Dyson Representative, Student Assembly
Simone Chan ‘25
Student Assembly Vice President of Communications
Christian Flournoy ‘27
Student Assembly Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Davian Gekman ‘26
School of Industrial & Labor Relations Representative, Student Assembly
